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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal punk pair ignited significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."